Traveling electrical contactor



B. W. BENBOW I TRAVELING ELECTRICAL CONTACTOR April 7, 1942.

Filed Jan. 23, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2o u 2/ 2?? u a )2 Z6 Z5 Z7 Z5 Z7 Z5 Z6 INVENTOR. fluff/'5 W fienbaw M ZA/ Arro a i w FIE :5 /Z

Aprii 7, 1942. B. w. BENBOW TRAVELING ELECTRICAL CONTACTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jap. 23, 1939 @lllli .WMW mM H 0 gm W A L W .fi B

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Patented Apr. 7, 1942 STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical equipment of the type making use of a traveling contact device together with one or more extended electrical conductors. It can be used to advantage where a trolley arrangementv is desired to supply current to movable appliances like hoists, cranes or locomotives.

It is a primary object of the invention to provide improved apparatus oi the above character which will afford utmost insurance against accidental contact with the current carrying conductors. A further object of the invention is to afford improved means for securing positive and continuous electrical engagement with such conductors, while at the same time providing an effective protective sheath about the conductor or conductors. Another object of the inventionis to afford an improved assembly forming a sheath of the type described above, and which can. be assembled from sections in conjunction with one or any number of conductors.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view, illustrating a sheath incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 22 of Fig. 1, and on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on a larger scale, similar to Fig. 2, but showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figs. 2 and 5, but showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 'l-'l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figs.

2, 5 or 6, but showing an additional embodiment of the invention.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings, consists of a plurality of conductors H), which may be formed of suitable metal or metal alloy, such as hard drawn generally at II. The sheath is so formed that traveling contact means such as trolley wheels, may make continuous electrical contact with exposed areas of the conductors.

Instead of forming the sheath of a single piece of insulating material, it is longitudinally parted,

These conductors are embraced within a sheath of insulating material, designated tions l3 are identical in form. Each longitudinal section of the sheath is provided with an extending rib, whereby in an assembly such as illustrated in Fig. 2, a plurality of spaced parallel ribs are formed on one side of the sheath. In this instance the ribs for sections 12 have been designated by numerals l4, and the ribs on sections I3 by numerals It. The spaces l'l between these ribs form open longitudinally extending openings or slots, through which sliding contact shoes, trolley wheels l8, or like traveling means, may extend to make engagement with the conductors. I

In other embodiments of the invention to be presently described, the conductors are non-circular in transverse cross-sectional contour. In this instance however ordinary conductor wires are employed, having a circular cross-sectional contour. To hold the conductors. in proper position within the sheath, I provide the sections of the sheath with retaining studs I9. As shown in Fig. 3 when the sections are assembled the studs I9 form opposed pairs which engage about slightly more than one-half of the conductor. Thus the conductors are locked within the sheath at spaced points without interfering with a continuous contacting surface.

Suitable retaining means is employed for holding the sections of the sheath together. Thus I have shown bolts 20 extending through aligned openings in the sheath sections. In order to form an assembled structure of utmost strength, it is desirable to overlap adjacent longitudinal sections, as illustratedv in Fig. 1. Also it is desirable to afiord an interlock between adjacent contacting faces of the sections. Thus with respect to each of the segments I3, one side face is provided with a longitudinal groove 2|, and the other side face is provided with a complementary longitudinal rib 22. Likewise the inner face of one outer section I2, is provided with a rib 22, while the other section I2 has its inner face provided with a groove 2 I These grooves and ribs interfit, as illustrated in Fig. 2, thus affording utmost insulating protection extending over the conductors, and at the. same time affording greater strength for the assembled sheath.

It will be evident that the structure described above affords an adequate insulating sheath for any number of conductors. Such a sheath may extend for any length and can be supported by convenient brackets, for operating with traveling contacting means. One particular feature is that any number of sheath sections can be assembled, depending upon the number of conductors to be employed. If desired two sections like the side sections i2 can be assembled without intervening sections to form a sheath for a single conductor.

A variety of materials can be utilized for forming the sheath sections, but it has been found desirable to use a molded material having good insulating properties together with considerable mechanical strength. In this connection reference can be made to various condensate products or synthetic resins like Bakelite.

Fig. 5 illustrates another embodiment of the invention, in which use is made of conductors 23 of non-circular cross-sectional contour. The conductors illustrated are each provided with channels or grooves 24, extending along opposite sides of the conductor. what similar to the sheath ll of Fig. 2, and is formed of the sheath sections 26 and 27, corresponding to the sections l2 and I3 of Fig. 2. Instead of utilizing the retaining studs l9, the sheath sections are recessed to accommodate portions of the conductors 23, and to provide longitudinally extending ribs 28 which interlock with the grooves 24 of the conductors. It will be apparent that this interlock is established as long as the sections are clamped together by means of the bolt 29 or other retaining means. With this arrangement at least one-half the periphery of each conductor is available for making contact with trolley wheels E8, or other contacting means.

Fig. 9 illustrates an embodiment somewhat similar to that illustrated in Fig. 5. In this instance the sheath sections 3! and 32, corresponding to sections 26 and 21 of Fig. 5, likewise serve to embrace and retain conductors 23 of noncircular cross-sectional contour. To avoid use of an excessive amoLmt of insulating material, where larger sized sheaths are employed, the opposed faces of the sheath sections are relieved to form the cavities 33. In this instance as in Fig. 5, the sections afiord longitudinal ribs 34, which interlock with the grooves 35 formed in the conductors. The retaining bolts 36 can be suitably insulated to avoid possible short-circuiting with the conductors 23, as for example by use of insulating tubes 37. Instead of using ribs and grooves as in Fig. 2, to lock the sheath sections together, Fig. 9 make use of mated or overlapping ribs 38.

Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive illustrate an embodiment suitable when one desires to employ two trolley wheels for making electrical engagement with the conductors. The sheath part iii] in this instance is formed of sections 4! and 42, somewhat similar to the sections I2 and I3 of Fig. 2. However, instead of having substantially open slots between the ribs 43 and 44, the opposed faces of the ribs are provided with projecting studs 46. It will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 8 that these studs are arranged in pairs for the assembled sheath, whereby each pair of studs forms in effect a barrier extending across the associated conductor. Between these barriers openings 4? are formed through which one may make electrical contact with the conductor. In the arrangement of Fig. 8 the openings 41 for adjacent conductors are off-set or staggered, in order to afford utmost insulation and to minimize the possibility of short-circuiting.

The sheath is some- Fig, 7 illustrates a toothed trolley wheel 48 cooperating with the assembly described above. The teeth on such a trolley wheel may enter the openings 41, to make electrical engagement with spaced portions of the conductor. Two such wheels, secured to a single carriage, may engage a single conductor, in order to provide continuous contact. The studs 46 can be shaped as illustrated in Fig. 7, so as in efiect to form the teeth of a gear rack. The studs 46 not only afford spaced openings for making electrical contact with the conductors, but in addition they serve as retaining means for holding the conductors within the sheath.

The various embodiments of the invention described above can be utilized for a wide variety of installations, where it is desired to provide protection for otherwise exposed conductors or trolleys. A high degree of protection is afforded against accidental contact with the conductors, and in addition the conductors are carried by a mounting affording good insulating properties. As previously mentioned, all of the embodiments are adaptable with respect to the number of conductors employed. Even after an installation has been made, it is a comparatively simple matter to make alterations to increase or decrease the number of conductors.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the character described, an extended electrical conductor, a sheath of insulating material embracing the conductor, said sheath being formed to provide two longitudinally extending ribs on one side of the same, each rib being secured to an associated section, the inner opposed faces of said ribs being provided with projecting studs whereby the assembly affords spaced openings between the ribs through which a traveling contacting means may make electrical contact with exposed areas of the conductor.

2. In apparatus of the character described, an extended electrical conductor having a non-circular cross-sectional contour, said contour being such that the conductor is provided with longitudinally extending grooves or channels on opposite sides of the same, and a sheath of molded insulated material embracing the conductor, said sheath being provided with portions interlocking with said grooves, one side of said sheath being provided with a series of openings whereby a toothed traversing contact means can make electrical contact with the conductor through said opemngs.

3. In apparatus of the character described, an extended electrical conductor, said conductor being provided with a non-circular cross-sectional contour whereby opposed sides of the conductor are provided with grooves, a sheath of insulating material embracing the conductor, said sheath being longitudinally parted whereby it is formed of at least two longitudinal sections, interlocking rib and groove means between said sections, portions of said sections being interlocked with the grooves of said conductor, the two sections of the sheath being also formed to provide two longitudinally extending ribs, there being a series of openings between said ribs through which a toothed traversing contact means may make electrical contact with the conductor.

BUR'I'IS W. BENBOW. 

